Seahawks get important 22-16 win in Arizona but lose Richard Sherman for the season

The Seahawks needed a stellar showing after their upset loss to Washington Sunday. They got one in their 22-16 Thursday Night Football win over the Cardinals in Glendale, but it came at a steep cost: Seattle faces a second-half schedule without starting cornerback Richard Sherman, who is done for the year after he suffered a ruptured Achilles.

O’Neil: Wilson’s play stands out in win | Photos | Stats

Here’s a breakdown of each quarter of Seattle’s win.

FIRST QUARTER

Seahawks 7, Cardinals 0

The Seahawks’ defense got off to a quick start when safety Kam Chancellor forced a fumble of Cardinals’ quarterback Drew Stanton, which was quickly recovered by defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. Seattle’s offense, though, couldn’t take advantage of the turnover and was forced to punt after a false start from Germain Ifedi left them facing third-and-13.

The Seahawks’ third drive was far more successful. The offense picked up two first downs and capped the drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson to tight end Jimmy Graham. It also marked Graham’s fifth touchdown of the season.

After racking up 16 penalties last Sunday, the Seahawks were called for five penalties (for 46 yards) in the first quarter.

Notable: Defensive tackle Jarran Reed was injured on Arizona’s second possession. He was able to walk off the field under his own power.

SEA – Russell Wilson 6 pass to Jimmy Graham, 5:07 (Blair Walsh kick, SEA 7-0)

SECOND QUARTER

Seahawks 15, Cardinals 7

Three big penalties on the Seahawks during Arizona’s late first quarter drive left the Cardinals in Seattle territory, and ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Stanton to tight end Jermaine Gresham.

The Seahawks took the lead once again early in the second quarter when Chancellor brought down Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson for a safety.

The Seahawks were again on the move with a good drive late in the second, but stalled just outside of the red zone when a third down pass from Wilson to Paul Richardson fell incomplete. After missing all three of his field goal attempts last week, Seahawks kicker Blair Walsh sank a 33-yarder to put Seattle up 12-7.

It looked as though Chancellor recovered a fumble by Cardinals running back Andre Ellington, but the play was ruled an incomplete catch (a call questioned by more than a few 710 ESPN Seattle hosts). The defense still put up an impressive stop on 4^th-and-9.

Russell Wilson took over with 46 seconds remaining and led the Seahawks down the field to the Cardinals’ 25-yard line. Walsh made another field goal, this time from 43 yards out, to give Seattle the 15-7 lead heading into halftime.

Notable: Left tackle Duane Brown was forced to leave the field after having his ankle rolled up on during a run play – a huge loss for Seattle. Matt Tobin took over at left tackle.

ARI – Drew Stanton 14 pass to Jermaine Gresham, 14:53 (Phil Dawson kick, SEA 7-ARI 7)
SEA – Kam Chancellor safety, 10:53 (SEA 9-7)
SEA – Blair Walsh FG 33, 1:56 (SEA 12-7)
SEA – Blair Walsh FG 43, 0:07 (SEA 15-7)

THIRD QUARTER

Seahawks 15, Cardinals 10

Injuries mounted for both teams by the third quarter – an unfortunate, and frankly unsurprising, effect of playing with just four days’ rest. While cornerback Shaquill Griffin was able to return to the game after leaving with a shoulder injury early in the third quarter, Richard Sherman was forced to leave the game with what looked like a serious injury to his heel. It turned out to be a season-ending Achilles rupture.

The loss of Brown was also felt on the line. Wilson took a hard shot to the chin (which drew a toughing the passer penalty on the Cardinals) and was sacked for the fourth time to end the drive.

ARI – Phil Dawson FG 43, 8:32 (SEA 15-10)

FOURTH QUARTER

Seahawks 22, Cardinals 16

It was a two-touchdown night for Jimmy Graham. The 6-feet-7 tight end hauled in a second score from Wilson to give Seattle a 22-10 lead early in the fourth quarter (queue a techno Thursday dance). They landed in the red zone following a phenomenal connection between Wilson and wide receiver Doug Baldwin: a spinning Wilson dodged defenders in the backfield before hurling a pass to Baldwin, who leapt to catch it along the sideline at midfield and then bolted to the Cardinals’ 2-yard line.

Despite playing without two key starters, an exhausted Seahawks’ defense put up another fourth-down stop and blocked a PAT (Jeremy Lane) after a late touchdown from Arizona – its final score.

Notable: An injured Richard Sherman continued to be involved with teammates from the sideline, despite suffering his Achilles injury. Sherman was injured in the third quarter and remained on the sideline until the end of the game.

SEA – Russell Wilson 2 pass to Jimmy Graham, 12:49 (Blair Walsh kick, SEA 22-10)
ARI – Andre Ellington 1 run, :23 (Phil Dawson kick fail, SEA 22-16)

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